I really like it when program follows my system defaults for titles, colours, menus, control layouts, etc.. Having each program decide to do it's own thing is unnecessary and confusing. I set my layout the way I like it for a reason. Programs that decide to ignore that and do whatever is the current trend, or the latest idea, or trying to be clever, or to make things "simpler", or make things sexy, or any other of a number of claims are just change for changes sake IMO. Audio players tend to be the worst in this regard. We don't need a hundred different "skins" with a myriad of colours and fancy control shapes. Just play, skip, stop, etc is all that is needed, They should concentrate on fixing bugs rather than prettying everything up.

[/rant]

10 Jan 2015, 10:18

neville

Joined: 13 Jul 2008
Posts: 507
Location: New Zealand

neville

revolution you could try getting out of bed on the other side tomorrow. It could make you feel better, but maybe you'll say there's a wall there Oh well, at least it's something DIFFERENT

revolution you could try getting out of bed on the other side tomorrow.

Hehe, you mean on the bottom side. That would be tricky.

10 Jan 2015, 10:46

m3ntal

Joined: 08 Dec 2013
Posts: 296

m3ntal

Easy, simple, standard, maximizes vertical space with the tool bar on the left. Window color is light gray with a touch of blue for richness.

Windows Media player themes are the worst designs by far. Totally non-functional, important features hidden, can't find the Play button, not attractive.

([Rant]In response to recent discussions in Heap: Sorry, I don't respect what non-artists/non-designers think about art/design. I understand art and can prove it. They don't, they can't. Who cares what they think?

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR MY MUSIC, DON'T COME TO MY CONCERT! IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY ART, PLEASE DO NOT VIEW MY POSTS/CODE/SOFTWARE![/Rant])

10 Jan 2015, 12:17

edfed

Joined: 20 Feb 2006
Posts: 4238
Location: 2018

edfed

control panel on the left is like unity or osx stuff, it is just bad. the reason why every controls are sorted horizontally on the top (or the bottom) is because you don't have to move your mouse in all the directions just to chosse an option.

if you want to improve menus, place them in the same screen area in a way you don't have to move your eyes up and down.

12 Jan 2015, 08:29

m3ntal

Joined: 08 Dec 2013
Posts: 296

m3ntal

I disagree. Displays are more horizontal than vertical. This particular image is 800x600, 4.3 aspect ratio. In wide screen, it's even more important to maximize the vertical space.

What makes you think you have a right to judge when you produce nothing yourself? Why don't you write some code or design programs? I use MS Publisher to create quick sketches like this.

Please show me "better".

PS. Freedom of speech goes both ways.

12 Jan 2015, 15:45

edfed

Joined: 20 Feb 2006
Posts: 4238
Location: 2018

edfed

nothing better to show than what still exists

we read text from left to right, we look around us on the horizontal plane, and we very rarely use the vertical direction to scan the environment, it is maybe due to our evolution or something like this...

personnaly, i find it "harder" to scan from up to down than to scan from left to right. maybe my cultural limitations.

personnaly, i find it "harder" to scan from up to down than to scan from left to right. maybe my cultural limitations.

I think this is an evolutionary trait not just cultural. It is more advantageous to scan the horizon for potential food or dangers than to be scanning from the sky to your feet.

A lot of existing layouts are already optimised for human traits like this. Book layouts, movie layouts, house layouts, etc. And when people ignore clues like this things become less comfortable to use. How many people have you seen put their Windows task bar on one side? Most people find it more pleasing either at the top or the bottom. But curiously lists of items are easier to process when presented in a column format when the contents is ordered in some meaningful way.

12 Jan 2015, 18:06

m3ntal

Joined: 08 Dec 2013
Posts: 296

m3ntal

edfed: I'll make it easy for you: Here's the actual BROWSER.PUB file. Now, you can edit this, move the icons around. Please show me what you think is "better". Anyone can do something different. The challenge is to be different for the better and not for worse.

I wish someone would try to improve my code/designs instead of sit back and tell me what to do (it was mainly John and sleep trying to "bully" me and get me to do what they want for their own selfish desires, personal and/or financial gain).

Should the tool bar be vertical? Yes, on a horizontal display to maximize the vertical space available.

Should the tool bar be on the left or right? A matter of opinion. Programmers should be able to choose/customize everything: color/s, fonts, etc. As for left or right, on modern displays/tablets that are constantly rotating, what's really left or right, top or bottom?

Should the tool bar buttons be exactly in this order? Personal design choice. Again, programmers should have the choice to click, drag and move icons to whatever positions they feel comfortable with.

Is this a "good" design for a browser? Yes, I think so, compared to most browsers.

Is this "the browser design best ever"? Absolutely not. Quick sketch.

Why do you post designs like this? To provide a visual description of what's in my mind that I can't explain in words or may not have time to implement myself.

Do you have more designs for software? Yes, endless ideas/designs/programs. My web site displays previews of some of my code and software. I've got much more.

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